Setup Windows Media Center Edition 2005 with Astro, Introduction, Part 1
Posted by Terence Yung in Tech, tags: Astro, EPG, HTPC, Media Center - 2,100 viewsI came across a Home Theater PC (HTPC) from Bluedot during my KIASU Trip to PC Fair earlier this month. After playing around the test unit, I was really fascinated by its ability to integrate with Astro and its Astro’s Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). The unit costs well above 4K, a price which I definately not willing to pay since there’re much higher prority items in my wish list queue.
After fishing some technical information from the Bluedot’s staff, I went home and did a week long research on how to assemble a similar system without blowing a hole in my pocket. My findings are:
- I need Windows Media Center with a Happauge PVR-150 MCE Card installed in it.
- Astro is controlled through a IR Blaster.
- EPG is not offered in officially from Astro. Some level of tweaking is needed to get Astro EPG working in Windows MCE.
And the key features that my HTPC is going to have are:
- EPG for Astro.
- Ability to record/rewind/replay programmes.
- Ability to watch downloaded series/movies.
After 2 weeks of intense reseaching, I went to Low Yat Plaza and bought the Happauge PVR-150 MCE TV Tuner card (RM 499). I slot the card into a PIII 933 Mhz PC that was lying around collecting dust (I know its old and slow, but I don’t want to mess up my main PC). I then spend another 3 days tweaking and configuring it to make it work with Astro complete with EPG.
Here are some screen shots:
I setup my TV as a second monitor with my monitor beside it. Windows can be drag between each window.
Watching a boring game while reading news thru Internet.
The main screen of Window Media Center Edition
Live TV menu showing previously recorded shows and upcoming recordings.
Changing Astro channels using HTPC.
The electronic programme guide.
Pausing a live TV (time shifting).
Rewinding live actions.
Playing back recorded shows.
Recorder settings displays how much disk space or hours left for recording purpose.
I use my Logitech Wireless keyboard and mouse to control the HTPC. So that I can sit a distance away on the sofa and control it.
The bundled remote that comes bundled with Happauge PVR-150 MCE. The green button in the middle launches Windows Media Center.
I was googling around for keywords like “Malaysia Astro MCE EPG setup guide” without any success. I got most of my needed info from HTPC sites from Singapore and Australia. After going throught the pain and hardship of researching, I’m going to document my research here for the benefit for any Malaysian that wants to setup Windows MCE to control Astro with EPG. Watch out for upcoming parts of the guide.
Part 1, Introduction
Part 2, Hardware Setup
Part 3, Software Setup
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Same here… I keep getting “no information” for a lot of the channels… I think maybe Astro changed their urls for EPG… Someone help!!!
I’m sorry guys. I will only be able to help after May. Very busy at the moment after relocation back to hometown. And there’s no place for me to setup my HTPC yet.
Hi everyone. I’m planning to setup astro htpc also. I just need the tv tuner card. However, I checked at Lowyat plaza, n they mentioned the model pvr-150 and pvr-150 mce is different. even the price is not the same (pvr-150 mce costs 390; pvr-150 costs 300). what is the difference between the two? which one should i use?
You need PVR-150MCE because it comes with a IR blaster to control Astro channel
Great job man! gosh… I cant wait to get it setup. I have been searching for ways to get Astro EPG works for months… wonder will anybody works on a tuner card for PS3?
But I saw the website, both of them comes with IR blaster. And also, I checked the Hauppage website, they mentioned the only difference between the two is that the MCE one works with MCE edition, while the other doesn’t. However, I was not planning to use XP/Vista MCE edition. I want to try using MythTV. Do you think the one w/out mce can work?
If you not going to use Microsoft MCE then I guess it will be ok to buy the non MCE edition. Just make sure it comes with IR Blaster
[...] to configure software tuner to play along with Windows Media Center Edition and ASTRO. I did use this guide (its very handy). On top of that , a gentleman has started his own HTPC Community for Malaysians to [...]
VERY GOOD WEBSITE!I LIKE IT.
Hi Terence,
First off, great blog and very useful HTPC article! Just wondering if you could help me with TV tuner card selection.
I am looking to build a HTPC with an Antec Micro Fusion 350 case. It is a low-profile case. Could you recommend a TV tuner card which will fit in this case and also works with an Astro decoder? (i.e. IR blaster, composite input etc.)
Thanks!
-Marthaen
Marthaen,
based on the pics of the case, it should be able to accept standard size pci cards.
The only 100% guarantee to work solution is to get Hauppauge PVR-150MCE card.
Goto mediacenter2u.com if you need more info.
Hi Terence,
I’ve got the case already and it only supports half-height PCI cards with half-height brackets..
Am I right in saying that I need a card with composite input, IR blaster and supports Windows MCE for this to work?
-Marthaen
Yes, you need a card that support Windows Media Center and with composite input + IR Blaster.
But I don’t think there’s any card in the market that can fit into your casing. Your best bet is to use USB tuner.
Check out this http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr1950.html
Don’t know how much will it cost though….
Also check out this page. They have half height cards.
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/prods_mckit.html
Hi Terence,
I went to Low Yat today and could not find any TV tuner cards with IR blaster. There was only 1 shop with Hauppauge cards, and it was a TV box rather than a PCI card, but it was RM799. Where can I find the PVR-150 and how much is it roughly?
-Marthaen